I’ve been exploring adaptability in this blog for several years now, but I haven’t defined it rigorously. I discovered this report: Training Adaptable Leaders: Lessons from Research and Practice, RR1844_Adaptive Ldrs, from the US Army, and I’m slowly digesting it. Here’s how the report defines adaptability: an effective change in response to an altered situation. Well, […]
What is Adaptability? Read More »
How do you walk downstairs? I suspect you walk downstairs the way most people do: facing forwards. What about with a cup of tea in your hands? Do you still walk forwards? This past summer, when I had an acute back problem, radiculopathy, I found it impossible to balance and walk downstairs to my office
Forwards, Backwards, Who Cares? Read More »
On Monday, April 15, I was merrily typing away at my computer, getting ready for PSL, my trip to England, and all of my todos. I was uber-productive, writing like a champ, checking Shaina’s running times, urging her on in my head. I could see her times update on the web page. “Yes, she’s doing
Relief and Sorrow for the Boston Marathon Read More »
I’m traveling to Indianapolis today for AgileIndyConf. It’s a quick flight from Boston. As usual, the hardest part is getting through security. The security lines today were easily three times as long as usual. Since I fly a couple of times a month, I know something about the lines. I don’t fly as much as
Hats Off to TSA and Fellow Travelers, Not to Congress Read More »
Several weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to cook hazelnut muffins from Low Carb-ing Among Friends. Well, it took me until the weekend before Christmas to buy hazelnut meal from our local Whole Foods supermarket. Our normal grocery store doesn’t carry almond meal or hazelnut meal. I finally had all the “special” ingredients. I
Adventures in Cooking Hazelnut Muffins Read More »
One of the biggest potential stumbling blocks to our adaptability is our mental models, the way we see the world. I had a funny example of that this week, with my home physical therapist. The good thing about a home physical therapist (PT) is that I get feedback on the way I am doing my
Our Mental Models Affect Our Problem Solving Read More »
I had knee replacement surgery a week ago. I tore my left ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) 28 years ago, had experimental surgery to replace it 27 years ago–it seemed like a great idea at the time–and the repair failed at least 15 years ago. So I’ve been walking around without an ACL for a very
What’s the Real Question? Read More »
I had a rough February. First came the vertigo attack on Feb 1. Then I fell on Feb 8 in the gym with Erik and broke my “indestructible” glasses. (Oh yeah? I’ll give you indestructible.) I wrenched my problematic knee on Feb 24, and I had such pain I was not able to dance in
When Life Hands You Lemons…Solve a New Problem Read More »
At OOP 2012, I took the opportunity to develop and present a Pecha Kucha. Here’s how you say Pecha Kucha: First, say the Yiddish word, “tchotchke,” Now, adapt the word to “tch-otch-ka.” Yes, that’s not a word. We’re getting there. Now, add a “peh” in front of it. You have “peh-tch-otch-ka.” And, if you are
OOP 2012 Pecha Kucha Video Posted Read More »
I recently celebrated Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the Jewish High Holidays. Here, in the US, we go to services in more fancy-dancy clothes than I suspect the Israelis wear. Back in August, I said to Esther, “I have a great suit, but I’m not so sure about my shoes. I should wear my Merrells,
Many Rule Transformations in Just 24 Hours Read More »